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Another arrested, a third sought in fatal shooting at the fairgrounds

A 19-year-old man was arrested last week, becoming the second to be charged and arrested in the killing of a 16-year-old and the attempted murder of a 14-year-old at the North Florida Fairgrounds in November.

Trevon Dennis, of Tallahassee, was in a blue car with suspects Christopher Simmons and Calvin Riley, both 20, in the early morning hours of Nov. 16 — during the final weekend of the fair – when he fired multiple shots out the back window, a witness told Tallahassee Police officers.

Police arrived in front of Cox Stadium, adjacent to the fairgrounds, to find Chadric Anderson, wounded. He later died at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare due to his injuries. A 14-year-old boy would survive his injuries, court documents said.

Dennis and Riley, the car’s driver who was arrested on murder and attempted murder back in January, are both in Leon County Jail. Officer Scott Beck with the Tallahassee Police Department say investigators are now looking for Simmons, who faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder as well.

The shooting heightened tensions in the area around the fairgrounds, which includes Rickards High School, where Anderson had previously attended. A week after the shooting, rumors of violence at the school through social media resulted in heightened law enforcement there.

The surviving victim said he was walking along Paul Russell Road when he heard gunshots and saw sparks come from the backseat.

Another witness, described in a probable cause affidavit as simply an “occupant” of the car, said he and Simmons went to Dennis’ house earlier in the night to get a hunting rifle-like gun. When they returned to the parking fair parking lot, Dennis flagged them down and came running over to their car and got in the backseat.

The witness said Dennis was yelling shortly before he heard several pop sounds. He looked over to see Dennis holding the rifle as a person fell to the ground, court documents said.

TPD is asking anyone with information on Simmons to call them at 606-5800 or Crime Stoppers at 574-8477.